Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

The girl in question stood up. A sweet smile on her face, contrary to the glares Evan passed to Leo. She fluttered her eyelashes animatedly and bowed her head a bit.

"It had been a long time since I last saw you, brother Leo. You had turned more handsome and strong these years.'' Her voice was so sweet that Evan felt nauseated just by listening to her.

She raised her eyes and looked at Leo instinctively to know how he would react. She had thought that he would ignore her like he did with other girls, but instead of doing so, he nodded his head back.

"Mmmm" with that he sat on his seat. Though it was not much of a reaction, it was still a great achievement when it came out from the mouth of Leo, an iceberg who only gives death glares or avoid like you never existed.

'So that was his taste! Tsk! Who would have thought that he was a strong person like him, like frail girls!' Evan looked at him with disdain but his face froze when he looked back at her when she was cursing him in her heart.

No! Do not panic. He could not know it. He could not hear what you said in your heart! She arranged her expressions and passed him the same sweet smile as Aurora had given, but it only felt like she was mocking him to Leo who narrowed his eyes further on her.

She shuddered with the way he gave her a death glare and bowed her head and decided to concentrate on the meal instead! But their small bantering did not look like a war to others but a lovers conversation through eyes! And her bowed head was nothing but a shy smile on her face.

"Leo.'' Gabriella narrowed her eyes at Leo but he feigned ignorance and looked at her with a blank face.

"Yes, aunt." 

"You should sit on the seat of your father in his absence. After all, you are the future heir of the family." Although she was talking to him, her eyes were on Eli, who did not even raise her head. 

Leo's eyes hardened. He clenched his fists but did not say a word and nodded his head. He let go of his seat and walked to his father's seat. His grip on the chair was so tight that the iron bar of the chair formed the mark of his fingers!

An arrogant smile formed on the face of Gabriella as she held the spoon in her hand and took a sip of the soup. But then her eyes fell on Evangeline and her face turned sour again. How could a mere commoner have the right to sit and have a meal with them! Did she think just by wearing the clothes like them and behaving like them would be enough to be one of them. A duck could behave like a swan but it would stay duck forever! 

She raised her elegantly as she pointed at evan. "Since you are aiming for the post of the duchess of the Thawne family, should you be well versed in the duties a duchess would perform!" she asked unhurriedly as she swirled the spoon in the soup.

Evan raised her head and blinked. Could she say that she was only targeting to have a small house with a back garden and a small job of teaching music!? 

"Your expressions are telling that you didn't even know what duties are performed by a duchess!!" she continued with a smirk as she looked at the blank face of Evangeline who only blinked again.

"But aunt." Before Aurora could say anything, Gabriella raised her hands to stop her right there. The girl looked at her aunt aggrievedly and then at Leo but he was not even looking at her. His eyes were stilled at Evan.

He wanted to see what test aunt Gabriella was talking about and would she be able to perform it. He even forgot that he had decided to behave cold with Evan and did not spare her a look to keep her safe from his aunt.

"A duchess had to perform many duties. I am confused about which duty you are talking about?" asked Evan with a calm voice as she took a sip of her soup in a poised manner. She did not look even a bit worried as if they were talking about a third person only.

Gabriella raised a brow. The Evan she had met last night was too easy to flare, she did not know how to talk in a poised manner and her behavior was no less than an ignorant person. But now! Not only had her dress up had been changed, her way of behaving was looking like nobles too.

'How could a person change so much overnight! Did Eve or Eli help her by telling her what kind of behavior I liked' her eyes moved to both sisters in question and narrowed at them.

"I am talking about every duty. But let's start with a basic one. It had never been in the history of our family that the future wife of the heir had started living in the palace before the marriage. But I think a homeless girl like you could be spared from this rule! In fact, i will ask aurora if she had a few clothes to spare you as i heard that you didn't even bring any luggage when you come here." a look of disdain could be seen on the face of Gabriella, though she continued to speak in a sweet voice. She was sure that the girl had been blinded by the luxuries of the palace as she had spent her whole life in the dirt!

",........" even gnashed her teeth when she was labelled as a greedy and opportunist girl! Could she tell the lady that she tried running but her only dear brother had ordered his son to bring her back!?

"You will be the one to serve my meal today!"

"........"